TOO SUDDEN FOR GERMANS

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 309, 24 September 1943, Page 7

TOO SUDDEN FOR GERMANS

British Landings In Aegean

HUNGRY POPULACE (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received September 23, 7 p.m.) LONDON, September 22. “The British beat the Germans to the occupation of the island of Leros, in the Dodecanese zone, by an operation in classic British style, with the Army. Navy, and Air Force co-operating, states a correspondent of the British United Press, cabling from Leros. “Famous desert scouts were speedily followed by the main force of British troops, who lauded in lorries and occupied hill positions before the populace knew what was happening. When they realizcd that the British had arrived they stood on tiie roadsides and cheered. “It is little wonder, because the people had been near to starvation. It was pitiful to see the children scrambling lor biscuits which the troops immediately started to hand out. Tiie population is practically all Greeks and it had only a veneer of Fascism. There is a small colony of Italian officials and a few Italian troops, and their Fascism has gone with the wind.” Paratroops Over Kos. Another report, describing tiie occupation of the island of Kos, says that a single R.A.F. plane landed on the main aerodrome shortly after the Italian armistice in order to examine the conditions. Spitfires of the South African Air Force next day arrived at the same aerodrome and were greeted by an Italian Air Force officer and several Italian Army officers. Then at night-time, by the light of the full moon, transport planes dropped paratroops. Hundreds of islanders, awakened by the noise, rushed out and welcomed the paratroops, helped them to repack their parachutes, and carried their equipment to the nearest Italian garrison. The Luftwaffe arrived over Kos at dawn and began low-flying attacks. Eleven German planes have been shot down since then.

German newspapers are preparing the public for tiie eventual loss of Crete, says the Stockholm correspondent of the “Daily Express.” They' say : “Crete has lost its former great strategic importance, and its defence does not justify losses in beating off enemy attacks, which are expected any day.”